Dethatch lawn

[heyttown]

When is the best time to dethatch the lawn..I know it needs done, but we've had so much rain lately the ground is really wet...should I wait until the ground dries, or is this a mid summer job?

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Dethatch lawn

What type of grass do you have? I've heard southern lawns need de-thatching more than we do up here. I've heard that de-thatching kentucky bluegrass/fescues, that are typical up here is not really needed, but that bermuda or whatever exists in the warm half of the nation need it more. Regardless, I'd not do it too early. Let the lawn get greened up (if you're north like me), and dried so you don't tear things up too much when you rake it out. How you doing it? Power rake, manual, dethatch mower blade?

 

[heyttown]

Re: Dethatch lawn

Im up here in the northern half also..so probably bluegrass im guessing..I have a steady mixture of grass and some viney ivy crap that loves to weave its way around my yard,plus I believe a grub problem...I will admit my yard has been neglected for way to long, but trying to get it looking good on a limited budget..without going the professional route with a business..I planned on renting a dethatch machine from the local rental place.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Dethatch lawn

There will be a growing period between your flooding and the summer heat. That is when I would dethatch your lawn. It will only take a few days for the ground to stabilize after the rains quit. If you do it before you will create a real quagmire.

Also, after you dethatch, you should also aerate, then lay on the fertilizer and lime (if that is called for in your area). Your lawn will come roaring back to life.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Dethatch lawn

Do it in the fall !

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Dethatch lawn

Do it in the fall !

^^^^^ Absolutely.
Fertilise with the correct seasonal fertiliser, spring, summer and fall.....
Dethatch (if needed), aerate, and top-dress in the early fall.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Dethatch lawn

Do it in the fall !

Definetely would not hurt but not the most effective time. Spring is when the growth starts and aeration will have it's best effect during that time. Aerating in the fall will let the holes close up and not allow the nutrients and oxygen down below at the time they are most needed.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Dethatch lawn

Definetely would not hurt but not the most effective time. Spring is when the growth starts and aeration will have it's best effect during that time. Aerating in the fall will let the holes close up and not allow the nutrients and oxygen down below at the time they are most needed.

I beg to differ ... dethatching in the spring is stressfull on your lawn as it will destroy a good percentage of the new growth shoots that start in the spring. In the fall is the best time to both aeriate and dethatch. When you have warm days and cool nights, the roots are developing. It wont grow that fast on top. Bit it will on the bottom [roots.]. In the fall its best to use a low nitrogen, high potash fert. the 1st number ixn the fert mix is nitrogen] thats what gives the grass its green and makes the grass grow on top The second num is phosphores, and the third number is potash, which is for root development. The basis for any healthy lawn is a good root system. High nitrogen ferts are like junk food, speed. Like 25-5-5 thats junk food,. Causes it to grow too fast, end up with thatch problems..thatch brings insect problems and the grass roots actually gro into the mat of thatch instead of the dirt. Golf coutrses aeriate 3 of more times a year, but the best time for any of that is in the fall. Seeding as well. If your going to do one thing aeraite inthe fall and put down a low nitro high potash fert and reep the benis next spring

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Dethatch lawn

There's a tremendous difference in weather in the "northern half". Around here, to wait till early summer would be killing the lawn since that's the beginning of the dry season. If you're where there is abundant rainfall, no sense in not dethatching and reseeding early. That way you get to enjoy a developing lawn most of the summer. You can allways overseed in the fall if it's needed. And if you're looking at getting rid of the nuisance grasses, it's probably a little late. I applied Round Up about 4 weeks ago to those areas so it's now just about the right time to replant those areas.

 

[Cofe]

Re: Dethatch lawn

When I used to live up north, most people would dethatch in the very early spring. The rental dethatchers work the best, and as was suggested aerating right after is a good thing....then fertilize. Since you think you have grub candy "bluegrass" it would also be a good idea to put on pest control so the chemical can soak into the aeration holes.
I used to talk to the neighbors and tell them I was going to rent a dethatcher and aeratior and ask them if they wanted to use them after I rented them, and then split the cost . That worked really well, and we would run the equipment for the older citizens on their lawns to help out.
I would also suggest to stop by a local lawn and garden shop with some blades of your grass and discuss what to do with your lawn. They would know best for your area.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Dethatch lawn

I beg to differ ... dethatching in the spring is stressfull on your lawn as it will destroy a good percentage of the new growth shoots that start in the spring. In the fall is the best time to both aeriate and dethatch. When you have warm days and cool nights, the roots are developing. It wont grow that fast on top. Bit it will on the bottom [roots.]. In the fall its best to use a low nitrogen, high potash fert. the 1st number ixn the fert mix is nitrogen] thats what gives the grass its green and makes the grass grow on top The second num is phosphores, and the third number is potash, which is for root development. The basis for any healthy lawn is a good root system. High nitrogen ferts are like junk food, speed. Like 25-5-5 thats junk food,. Causes it to grow too fast, end up with thatch problems..thatch brings insect problems and the grass roots actually gro into the mat of thatch instead of the dirt. Golf coutrses aeriate 3 of more times a year, but the best time for any of that is in the fall. Seeding as well. If your going to do one thing aeraite inthe fall and put down a low nitro high potash fert and reep the benis next spring

^^^^+1
Dethatching in the spring is just about the most damage you can intentionally cause...
High nitrogen fertilisers are fine in the spring for a fast green-up, but that presupposes that you have a healthy lawn with a good root system...obtained by aeration, de-thatching, and top-dressing in the fall....

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Dethatch lawn

There's a tremendous difference in weather in the "northern half". Around here, to wait till early summer would be killing the lawn since that's the beginning of the dry season. If you're where there is abundant rainfall, no sense in not dethatching and reseeding early. That way you get to enjoy a developing lawn most of the summer. You can allways overseed in the fall if it's needed. And if you're looking at getting rid of the nuisance grasses, it's probably a little late. I applied Round Up about 4 weeks ago to those areas so it's now just about the right time to replant those areas.

If you dethatch in the fall, you are good to go....thatch will not build over the winter.

 

[jkust]

Re: Dethatch lawn

I'm in Minnesota and so that means some parts still got 10 inches of snow this week alone. I've made the mistake of dethatching in the spring one time and as mentioned above it kills the sprouts and removes the roots. That year, I had a thin lawn. I used a thatch rake which works well but is really tiring. We have blue grass as most do here and that is when I learned overseading with blue grass is a failed proposition. It takes forever to germinate to be able to use the lawn. Overseading with a mix of annual and perennial though gives you mismatched patches in the yard even the second year when the annual has died off. We have half an acre in the suburbs and I'd swear some years I just want a crew to come in and resod it all. The whole neighborhood has quack grass taking over and there is no selective killer for that unfortunatly.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Dethatch lawn

You can dethatch in the spring if you'll reseed (overseed) too.

This will probably be your best bet since your lawn is a mixture of grasses and weeds. Use a quality seed and a good starter fertilizer.

You'll have a beautiful lawn.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Dethatch lawn

Well in my neck of the woods, the PNW, I would create a sodden quagemire if I dethatched in the fall. So mid spring it will be.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Dethatch lawn

Well in my neck of the woods, the PNW, I would create a sodden quagemire if I dethatched in the fall. So mid spring it will be.

The one thing that hasn't been mentioned is that aerating, topdressing, fertilising with the appropriate fertiliser for the time of year....are pretty much ALWAYS a plus.
Thatch does not always build to the point of being a problem, and beyond any discussion in here about the pros and cons of timing...the most important element is simply to confirm whether there is even a need to dethatch.

Sort of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Dethatch lawn

The one thing that hasn't been mentioned is that aerating, topdressing, fertilising with the appropriate fertiliser for the time of year....are pretty much ALWAYS a plus.
Thatch does not always build to the point of being a problem, and beyond any discussion in here about the pros and cons of timing...the most important element is simply to confirm whether there is even a need to dethatch.

Sort of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Good point... To expand on that a little bit, An overly thatched [up to a qtr inch or so is ok and even beneficial, retains moisture] lawn is the result of other things, usually improper lawn care. High nitrogen fert, over fertilizing, not mowing at the proper interval and not cutting it to the proper height. A properly maintained lawn will self-manage itself. Aeration is a great way to let the lawn naturally break down the thatch, water and air decomposes thatch. The little plugs of dirt that the aerator drops on the lawn also break down thatch. Low nitro fert lets the grass grow slower so the grass plant doesnt produce more waste grass sheaths [its like the husk of the grass plant that falls away as the grass grows, then the lawn can naturally digest. Letting the grass grow a foot long and then not bagging adds to thatch. There are alot of little details that add up to a nice lawn. An ounce of prevention is W A # O Cure dontyaknow !

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Dethatch lawn

....the most important element is simply to confirm whether there is even a need to dethatch.

Sort of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Without a doubt. For years I did not have a thatch problem. I still always aerated though. Seems like the last few years my lawn has been taken over by a 'golf course' grass called Bentgrass. It is acid tolerant, squeezes out the rye/fescue variety and builds a heavy thatch.

The net result is a lawn that is never green enough to suit. One way to deal with it is to kill it and replant. The other is to keep dethatching it and poking holes in it and keep the lawn well limed. This at least has kept my lawn looking reasonable without the expense of a complete redo.